2017 Highs…..and Lows

Well, that’s a wrap on 2017. We could tell you that this year has been full of joy and triumphs – which is 100% true – but we’d be lying if we didn’t also tell you it had it’s many lows just as big – life hasn’t always been as perfect as our edited photos. Needless to say, 2017 was quite the year!

This year has been a difficult one for many, and at times it felt as if the world was ending. Natural disasters, terrorism, hatred, politics and the sexual harassment scandals…..tearing so many apart and yet bringing so many together. The way people all around the world unified after so many of these happenings was a beautiful thing to witness and at times, be a part of.

A high we are proud of? Our Style Spies business is better than ever. We celebrated 8 years of being in business, and are blessed to be able to put our passion for fashion into a business that helps people feel good about themselves on a daily basis. We can’t wait to see what 2018 brings for this business that is now as old as our two youngest daughters!

An unexpected low that turned into an unexpected high? We experienced true heartbreak as our other business venture made some changes that ultimately led us to go in a new and different direction. With this difficult decision, we faced betrayal, the sadness of letting go, and the brutal realities of professional and personal friendships. It was a place we never thought we would be……

That said – the silver lining to that change brought us more than we could ever have imagined. By taking this huge leap of faith, we were embraced by a company with open arms, new friendships, and the chance to build something to support our families in the long run. As Mothers, knowing our children are watching and listening intently, it was important for us to show them how strong and brave they need to be, and CAN be in the face of adversity!

Finally, both of us are now in our 40’s! It’s crazy to even type that as we have been friends since ages 21 and 22, when we were roommates in Chicago, finding our way. 40 has brought surprises, laughter, memories, and celebration, and we can happily say that there is a peace that comes with this age. Accepting who you are and embracing it, and wanting to be surrounded by people who genuinely care about you vice versa…..its the ONLY way to go. And we can’t forget the fact that fashion in your 40’s is FABULOUS……it’s all about celebrating the best parts of yourself and truly dressing for YOU – no one else.

Long story short (and trust us, we could go on…..), what have we learned in 2017? It’s this: life is short. Life throws a lot of curveballs. Life isn’t always the way it seems in our edited, perfect pictures. It’s up to US to figure out how to handle them. Do you duck and cover? Do you face the curveballs head on? This year we’ve each chosen to face them head on. That’s what taking care of your family is about. No hiding, no dancing around the solution. Through sickness, job changes and even natural disasters, taking care of ourselves and our families is what it’s all about!

For us – Supporting your framily (friends who are family, get it? )….. is everything. Be good to one another this year! Cheers to a prosperous and healthy 2018!